TAMPA — He’s got playoff experience and drives in runs, lots of runs, and that’s why the Yankees signed free agent Raul Ibanez.
“He’s an RBI machine, first and foremost,’’ hitting coach Kevin Long told The Post yesterday of the left-handed hitting Ibanez.
Ibanez — who yesterday finalized a one-year, $1.1 million contract that includes $2.9 millon in performance bonuses — knocked in 84 runs last year for the Phillies to give him 1,054 RBIs over 16 seasons in the majors. He has been in the postseason in each of the past three years with the Phillies and has notched at least 30 doubles in each of the past 10 seasons. Over that span he has averaged 34 doubles, 22 home runs and 94 RBIs.
Long has a good relationship with Ibanez and in the past worked with him a bit in the Miami area where Long tutors Alex Rodriguez. Long and Ibanez also were together in the Royals organization for several years.
“He’s going to give you a quality at-bat every time up there,’’ Long said of Ibanez, who officially was signed to a one-year deal worth $1.1 million yesterday. “He can hit righties. He can hit lefties.
“He’s been there, done that. I like what he brings to the table. As far as our lineup and what we do, he’s going to be a good fit.’’
Ibanez, who turns 40 in June, worked with hitting guru Rudy Jaramillo recently to get his swing grooved and that is fine with Long.
“If you can work with anybody, work with Rudy,’’ Long said.
“We plan on DH-ing him, putting him in the outfield as well,’’ manager Joe Girardi said.
Girardi also said he envisions sticking Ibanez in left or right on occasion. Girardi said he also could put Eric Chavez — who agreed to a one-year, $900,000 contract yesterday — at first base once in a while.